(URBANDALE) – Gov.-Elect Terry Branstad today announced that retired Brig. Gen. Jodi Tymeson will serve in the Branstad/Reynolds administration as head of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Tymeson, served in the Iowa Army National Guard from 1974-2007. While there, she graduated from officer candidate school and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1982. She served as platoon leader, company commander, battalion commander and troop command commander – responsible for 3,450 soldiers.

She was selected to attend the Army War College as a national security fellow at Harvard University’s JFK School of Government, graduating in 1999. She is the first female promoted to brigadier general in the Iowa Army National Guard. She retired in 2007 with 33 years of service.

Tymeson’s husband, John, is a retired brigadier general, following his 34 years of military service. He is a Vietnam veteran, and currently serves as chair of the board of directors at the Food Bank of Iowa.

“Our National Guard troops are at their highest deployment since World War II, and Jodi has the knowledge and experience to understand their needs here at home,” said Gov.-elect Terry Branstad. “Jodi is an outstanding leader, and I am pleased she will be serving in this extremely important role within my administration.”

Tymeson also served as a full-time 6th grade teacher at Cedar Heights Elementary in Cedar Falls from 1988-1992, and taught as a substitute teacher from 1993-1998.

From 2001-2010, Tymeson served nearly 30,000 constituents as a state representative for Madison, Warren and Dallas Counties. She served as House Education Committee chair for four years, in addition to a number of other committee assignments.

“I’d like to thank Governor Branstad for this opportunity to serve veterans and their families, and I’d like to thank Patrick Palmersheim for his dedicated service over the years,” said Tymeson. “I look forward to working with the Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs, the team at the Department, the county directors, and all the veteran organizations and advocates throughout the state. There is a strong network of people in Iowa working to support veterans and their families, and I look forward to working as part of that team. Iowans appreciate the service and sacrifice of veterans and their families, and we will do our best to serve them.”

Tymeson grew up in Boone County, and currently resides in Winterset with her husband, John.